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gle...” from The Lion King. When I
actually enter the lakeside Music Cabin,
the kids have quieted down. They’ve
broken up into four groups to create
their own songs, gently tapping the polished
wooden drums to provide the
beat for their original compositions.
Next week, this co-ed group of 12 yearolds
will learn the fundamentals of
playing the electric keyboard and guitar;
these instruments are so brand
edit their own photography…
…and play musical instruments.
learn to cook…
new, they shimmer. There are also
simple percussion xylophones and bell
sets, all painted in primary colors for
the younger campers.
The counselor, Phoebe, plans to have
her music groups perform in the Talent
Show later in the session. When she
asked the kids what kind of music they
wanted to showcase, their answer was a
resounding “Hip-Hop.” She’ll suggest a
fusion with other types of sound, but if
they remain steadfast in their preference,
she’ll “go with the Hip-Hop flow.”
Photography
Later on, I meet four girls taking pictures
with digital cameras on the gravel path
leading back to the center of camp. They
tell me that once they snap their nature
shots, they’ll be able to edit them with a
graphic design program. Intrigued, I
hurry back to the newly established
Photo Cabin and find several enthralled
campers busy clicking their mouse buttons
a mile a minute in front of two iMac
computers with huge monitors.
The photographers, Trina and
Kamesha, have taken self-portraits,
which they’ve downloaded, edited, and
cropped. Then, they’ve copied the
image nine times in a three-by-three
arrangement to create an aptly titled
project, “Nine of Me.” Lastly, the girls
explore the art tools so they can customize
each of the pictures differently.
Trina is a big fan of the tool that leaves
her picture with a chrome-looking finish.
She says, “Look, I’m like a smooth
metal sculpture!” Kamesha is fascinated
by color and uses the stained glass and
watercolor treatments, because she
wants to paint herself “into a rainbowcolored
beauty.” These two returning
campers are very excited that Camp has
become “so high-tech that we can learn
cool programs like this!”
Cooking
Next, I follow my nose to the Cooking
Cabin, where the scent of today’s featured
recipe, grilled hamburgers, wafts
through the air. The lesson’s purpose is
to show campers that burgers exist
“beyond Mickey D’s.” Following a helpful
demonstration and under close
supervision, the boys and girls use their
cutting boards and paring knives to
chop peppers and scallions to add to the
beef mixture. A new camper, Jose, tells
me, “I didn’t even know that peppers
came in red! And, did you know that
scallions are like skinny onions?”
Then, seasonings are mixed into
the meat. Counselor Paddy wants to
introduce different spices to the children,
so “they don’t just pour mountains
of salt on everything! In fact, next
week we’re making Thai green chili. I
think the kids will really like cooking
and sampling ethnic foods. Also on the
agenda are blindfolded taste tests, so
that campers will learn to eat according
to taste, rather than by sight alone.”
The cooking class wraps up as
campers create mini-burger patties and
take turns cooking them on an electric
grill. Next to me, teenaged Anthony
bursts out, “I love cooking and can’t
wait to do it at home, too. Seriously, I’m
even thinking of becoming a chef. I
never would have thought about it
before, but it’s true!”
At the End of the Day
Before my long drive home, I unwind
by shooting baskets in the gym. A
spunky youngster tells me I should be
shooting “granny-style” underhand
shots. I ask her, “Why? Because I’m old
or because I don’t shoot well?” Her eyes
sparkle, but she refuses to take the bait.
“Well,” I say, “it’s okay to have opinions.
But tell me, how is Camp this
year? Medium good or really good?”
To this, she answers, “This camp is
the very best!” And, I believe her.
This summer, hundreds of deserving
boys and girls will have the chance
to “just be kids” – and so much more.
As I reflect on my amazing trip and on
all of my new friends, I am thankful for
the many individuals, families and corporations
that make Camp Homeward
Bound possible.
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